abt being latino on the internet i guess
One of the most frustrating things in recent times that i've been noticing a lot among latinos online and communities online for them is how.... divided we are.
Like I know every single group online is never going to be on the same page but,
for a group of people that often yell about the importance of community and solidarity there is very little of that among all of us. This is especially true for latinos living outside our home countries or not raised in the same country as our grandparents.
Every small misstep is just another step into someone else being "oh, they're not ___ enough" and it's so infuriating.
For example, if some of us get, rightfully, offended at a depiction or commodification of our culture, you always get others stepping in with "ugh, they're so americanized now, getting offended at everything." This especially comes from latinos who still live in/were fully raised in our countries of origin.
But like, lets say someone who wasn't raised fully in our countries of origin decides to make some sort of media (illustrations, comics, animations, literally anything) about their own life experiences dealing with culture, suddenly everyone is up in arms going "oh they're representing all of us wrong! They can't even speak our language correctly! ugh they're making us all look bad, so unrealistic!" Like, what's it gonna be???
And I know there is indeed a problem of when people not raised in our home countries speaking over those who actually live there. That's never ok and also an issue that needs to be worked on.
But very little is acknowledged over the opposite (from what i've seen) A lot of the problems we deal with are very different from those who still are in our home countries. Everything we say or do is often undermined with sayings of "oh they're less___" or "not ___ enough" or "not truly ___" and it's infuriating.
Even now someone is going to look at this and be like "oh she is being a brat, she's become too americanized".
Everything about it is so annoying.
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You complain about a legitimate offensive depiction? "you're too sensitive now. We don't get offended, it's not in our culture!" But then those same people take offense at someone from our culture using stuff from our culture to tell their life experiences or growing up in a different country.
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You dare to use some sort of language incorrectly or aren't familiar with the usual slang from our own countries? "These people are way too spoiled. They can't figure things out or even use slang they didn't grow up around!" But the moment these people who grow away from these cultures develop their own slang or new terms to describe themselves or their experiences, suddenly all of them throw a fit over not "speaking properly" (this is mostly directed at the latinx stuff tbh. I'm so sick of the "just call me a slur instead" people. Like, this word isn't being forced on you, you can just.... not use it for yourself??? god)
I dunno, I don't remember what else i wanted to write down.
I just noticed it being a trend recently that has me both concerned but often like
makes me think "maybe I shouldn't write about things i've experienced. Apparently they're al wrong or incorrect somehow." The idea that anything I create can be immediately written off as "not mexican enough" is so frustrating. You can praise some white person for doing the bare minimum research on a latine holiday or something in our culture but the moment one of us wants to experience it or get to know it then we're treated as if we were stupid or poisoning the pool like?? How does that make sense lol
I dunno its rly annoying and now i'm gonna go get breakfast
edit: I think there's a lot to share and celebrate about our culture. I am not against people outside of our culture learning about it or practicing it. I love when others start putting up their own day of the dead altars and photos of them online. I Love it when others try to learn how to make our foods bc they legitimately enjoy them! I don't want this to come across as gatekeepy or something. I don't think it does but just in case 😔